Commissioner of Agriculture 135 



virus. This has repeatedly been illustrated in the past few years, 

 and is no doubt one of the principal causes for the failure to 

 eradicate tuberculosis in herds where this practice has been fol- 

 lowed. It has therefore been considered necessary to discourage 

 the retesting of reacting individuals except for experimental pur- 

 poses. We have been and are making some investigations with a 

 view of securing more definite and conclusive data upon this 

 subject. 



We here desire to call attention to the percentage of so-called 

 " no-lesion " cases found in the official examinations. From the 

 data at hand and information secured from other authorities, 

 there is little doubt that the percentage of reactors in which no 

 visible lesions of tuberculosis are found could be much diminished, 

 were it possible to secure a more thorough autopsy. This is not 

 alone due to lack of skill on the part of the examiner but is par- 

 tially to be attributed to the objection made by the buyers of meat 

 to the mutilation of the carcass which is necessary if a thorough 

 dissection is made. 



It should be understood, moreover, that many of the animals 

 accepted as diseased by the Department, duly appraised and 

 slaughtered, are from herds tested by veterinarians acting in a 

 private capacity and who are in some instances not so experienced 

 in the use of tuberculin as is desirable. Where properly executed 

 condemnation sheets are submitted by duly licensed veterinary 

 practitioners, the Department is under obligations to accept such 

 as evidence of disease and act accordingly. In some cases the 

 practitioner is influenced by owners who insist upon the con- 

 demnation of individuals which do not show typical evidence of 

 tuberculosis as far as test report shows, and thus the State is placed 

 in the position of being virtually forced to accept and kill such 

 cattle, which, if tested by official representatives, might have been 

 held for further retest. The Department has endeavored to assist 

 veterinarians and others by advising that great care be used in this 

 matter, and has occasionally refused to accept recommendations for 

 slaughter where the facts did not warrant such procedure. On the 

 other hand, it more frequently happens that owners or veterinarians 

 are disposed to consider animals that show a definite reaction as sus- 

 picious only, requesting retests with a possibility of release rather 



